Base-ball bat.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

' J. F. MOGOY- I BASE BALL BAT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 190m N0 MODEL.

, W i J .j 1.

WITNESSES:

By 2;; I

v ATTORNE rs UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

JOHN FRANCIS MCCOY, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

BAS E-BALL BAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,639, dated June 2,1903'. Application filed July 8, 1902. Serial No. 114,729.. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN FRANCIS MCCOY, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of ject is to provide a newand improved baseball bat not liable to break when in use and arrangedto readily flex or spring between the handle and butt to allow drivingthe base-ball with great force and speed and to a greater distance thanwas heretofore possible by using the ordinary solid bats.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claim.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in alltheviews.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, andFig. 4 is a similar View of the same 011 the line 4: 4 of Fig. 2.

The base-ball bat, made of hickory or other suit ble hard wood,consists, essentially, of a handle A, a shank B, and a butt 0, of whichthe shank B is formed with a number of longitudinally-extending slots13, arranged diametricallyto form bars B approximately triangular incross-section and integrally connected at their ends with the solidmaterial of the handle A and butt 0. By the arrangement described thebars B render the shank flexible, so that when the bat is in use theball can be driven with great force and speed and a greater distance.than'washeretofore possible by the ordinary solid bats, it beingunderstood that the butt 0 on striking the ball yields and rebounds,owing to the flexible shank, and consequently sends the ball a greaterdistance.

By makingthe shank flexible it is not liable to break as easily as thesolid shank of ordinary bats now in use.

The handle A is formed with a central opening A for containing a fillingD, of rubber, cork, or similar flexible material or sub stance, the saidfilling extending from the outer end of the handle to within a shortdistance of the inner end thereof, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. Thefilling serves to protect the hands having hold of the handle A fromshock as the ball is struck by the bat.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A base-ball bat, comprising a handle, a shank and abutt; the shank having a series of longitudinally-extending diametricalslots, whereby to form said shank into spaced bars, and thereby rendersaid shank-section springy in all directions; said bars being integralat their ends with the handle and butt; said butt being formed of solidmaterial; and said handle having a central longitudinal bore; and afilling of flexible material in said bore, as specified and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. 1

JOHN FRANCIS MCCOY.

Witnesses v THos. N. GILMORE, GASTON BOUNAFORD.

